MA RESEARCH

And how the design industry can tackle mental health Notions of the “tortured artist” are well-worn: who can forget Van Gogh’s severed ear; poor Sylvia Plath’s frank admissions of mental anguish, and her eventual suicide; Alexander McQueen’s heartbreaking death at his own hands? The black dog of depression is a frequent companion to those of a creative disposition, but while we all remember the tragic tales of late artists and writers, mental health issues are prevalent for everyone. The design industry’s frequent long hours, stressful projects, glass ceilings and frantic working environments can all exacerbate latent mental health conditions, and in creative environments these conditions are purported to be more common than anywhere else. A  2014  report  published in the  Guardian  found similar links, stating that “painters, musicians, writers, and dancers were, on average, 25% more likely to carry the gene variants [for depression] th...

“When I illustrate a piece that deals with delicate, sensitive or controversial issues: subtlety is key,” Taken from:  https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/rachel-levit-world-mental-health-day-illustration-101017

When a pudgy, bespectacled seven-year-old, Olive (Abigail Breslin), voices her desire to take home the coveted Little Miss Sunshine crown at an upcoming beauty pageant, her wildly dysfunctional family sets out on an interstate road trip to ensure her a clear shot at realizing her dreams in former music video directorial team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' quirky feature debut, starring Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, and Toni Collette. Despite early career success as an outspoken motivational speaker, family patriarch Richard (Kinnear) continues to cling to his "Refuse to Lose" philosophy, much to the chagrin of his increasingly annoyed spouse, Sheryl (Collette). Add into the mix a Nietzsche-reading teenage son (Paul Dano) who has taken a vow of silence until he finds his fate as a fighter pilot; a horny, heroin-happy grandfather (Alan Arkin) with a penchant for creative profanity; and a suicidal genius (Carell) and Proust scholar still reeling about losing both his ma...

I was in an antisocial shell after a suicide attempt, but multiplayer gaming brought me back. Cover art detail from 'TimeSplitters: Future Perfect.' I don't remember much of my second year of university. I just remember my room. Days bleeding into one another as I listened at my door to make sure my housemates weren't around before I crept out to get food. At the start of the year I had tried to kill myself for the first time. Thankfully I didn't do my research and woke up in hospital, but the angst I felt for trying and failing, and the stigma around it, crushed me. My Asperger syndrome hopped into the party and convinced me that everyone would judge me. The result of this ultra combo of neurosis was that when I was released from hospital, I retreated to my room and stayed there. The situation was dire. After a few weeks, my friends had stopped trying to get in touch and while I was keen to socialize again, I felt too drained to leave my room. My ho...

The causes and consequences of suicide are complex and there are many myths and misunderstandings associated with the subject. Raising awareness of the complexities and encouraging responsible reporting can help prevent suicide. The suicide rate in the UK is continuing to fall. However, the number of suicides is still a concern. It is estimated that in England and Wales, at least 140,000 people go to hospital each year having attempted suicide.  How many suicides and attempted suicides are there each year? Although the overall rate of death by suicide is falling, more than 4,300 people still die by suicide in England and Wales each year. Many more suicide attempts are made. At least one person in every 100 who ends up in hospital after a suicide attempt will succeed within a year, and up to five per cent do so over the following decade. A British study found that women who have a history of deliberate self-harm (including overdose) are 15 times more likely to die by suicide c...